Twilight trotted outside, after having been denied her history lesson from Pinkie, she found her daily routine resuming, after stopping by her home for a quick expresso she trotted out to the market to find ingredients for tonight's dinner.

“Nightmare Night is coming soon, perhaps I should start prepping the castle,” Twilight wondered.

As Twilight was hoping nothing bizarre would happen today, she saw a familiar cloaked figure.

“It’s him?” Twilight said, remembering her encounter with the strange hooded being who warned her to leave Equestria.

She was scared, was he saying that to just psyche her out? Was it a prank? Or was he a stalker? Did he mean her harm?... she lost track of him before, but she wasn’t going to this time! It was time to get some answers!

“HEY!” Twilight called out to the hooded figure who jumped slightly and turned their head a little to see who yelled.

“I need to talk to you, I know what’s going on here, your following me aren’t you?” Twilight said approaching the figure who backed away.

“Who are you? What was the meaning of the words you told me back then?” Twilight demanded.

The figure turned and ran.

“Hey! Come back!” Twilight ran after the hooded figure.

She saw him round the corner and she took to the air, not caring who was watching.

She swooped around and saw the figure run into the market.

“Stop!” Twilight said before she saw the figure run into an open space in Ponyville…

Perfect.

Twilight swooped up and pounced on the figure.

“Eek!” the figure yelped in a surprisingly feminine tone.

“I got you, now talk-” Twilight’s determined look was replaced with surprise when she saw the figure was actually Trixie Lulamoon.

“Ok! Fine! You caught me! I was just trying to beg for food without anypony recognizing me! Sue me for that!” Trixie shouted angrily.

“T-Trixie?! Ohmygosh! I’m sorry!” Twilight got off of Trixie and helped her up.

“Sheesh, an ex-magician cannot even go into town without being chased out, if your looking to rob me of my bits too you’ll be out of luck, Trixie is broke…” Trixie sadly said near the end.

“You are? But I thought-”

“What? That I am well off? I was until tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber decided to expose me by bringing an Ursa Minor into town and showing to the townsponies-... Why is Trixie telling you this? You were there!” Trixie sighed.

“Look, Trixie, could we just put the past behind us? I thought you were someone else, that’s why I tackled you,” Twilight said.

“Does it matter?... Trixie is ruined either way!” Trixie barked at Twilight “If you had just minded your own business Trixie wouldn’t have to beg for food!” Trixie scolded.

“Don’t put that on me Trixie, it all started with your boasting, Snips and Snails wouldn’t have tried to get proof if you hadn’t put the idea in their heads,” Twilight defended.

“Whatever, now that everypony knows Trixie’s identity I suppose it’s back to sleeping in an alleyway in another city,” Trixie sullenly said before trotting away.

“Wait… what happened your carriage?” Twilight asked.

“I sold it, nopony came to Trixies shows and she needed bits…” Trixie sadly admitted.

“Trixie…” Twilight admittedly felt bad for the mare, even if she committed the actions that led to this.

“Trixie even tried to acquire a means to get stronger, but somepony had already made off with it, it’s not important what it was… It was supposed to help Trixie fix her life, but now the accursed thing has been stolen… before Trixie could…” Trixie was rambling on at this point and Twilight thought to herself… she was indeed pitiable in this state.

Twilight had a choice, move on and leave the arrogant unicorn to her own devices, or… *sigh* being the princess of friendship is so hard sometimes.

“Trixie?” Twilight called after.

“What do you want?” Trixie said bitterly.

“Do you want to come stay at my house? At least until you get back on your hooves,” Twilight asked.

Trixie snorted almost offendedly “Now you make fun of the Great and powerful Trixie? You expect her to believe that you would make room at your library for her?” Trixie snorted.

“I being serious Trixie, I can’t leave you like this,” Twilight said.

“Hmmph! Desolate she may be but Trixie still has her dignity! She doesn’t accept!” Trixie said.

“Well if you change your mind, come to the castle of friendship,” Twilight said before trotting away.

“Trixie said-... Castle?” Trixie said noticing what Twilight just said.

“Yes, my library got destroyed and now I have a castle,” Twilight said.

“...That’s not fair….” Trixie said sullenly.

Twilight paused “Seriously Trixie consider it,” Twilight said.

Trixie turned away and trotted off, Twilight sighed and trotted back home.

Twilight heard the thunder outside as a scheduled storm raged on.

Twilight sat before a fireplace and was reading one of her favorite books, while Spike slept upstairs.

‘The life and times of Starswirl the Bearded,’

As she read she heard a thumping sound elsewhere.

Twilight sighed “Darn it, those branches are becoming a real problem again,” Twilight said remembering those sleepless nights listening to branches knocking against a window. “I should trim them tomorrow,” Twilight said.

The thumping noises got louder.

“Huh?” Twilight noticed those thumping noises were getting louder.

“That’s odd, they never sound like that…” Twilight said returning to her book.

The thumping was sounding really loud now and they had a tune to them now, as if somepony was trying to-

“Wait… that’s not branches! That’s the door!” Twilight exclaimed, before trotting quickly down the stairs to the front door.

“Who could it be in this storm?” Twilight wondered before opening the door and finding a hooded figure standing there.

“AH!” Twilight jumped, before recognising the pony below the hood. “Trixie?” Twilight said incredulously.

“...Yes… Trixie considered it and… decided to grant you the pleasure of her presence.” Trixie said with some remaining poise.

“Yeah… I’m glad you came around Trixie, I-”

“Oh don’t patronize me or I may reconsider your act of generosity-” Trixie's stomach rumbled and she blushed.

“You can stop with the proud act Trixie, just please come in already,” Twilight sighed.

“O-ok…” Trixie sighed and she entered and she was immediately aware of how big and spacious it was inside.

“Wow… this place is…” Trixie began but Twilight glanced at her. “Ah… rubbish! Trixie’s caravan was more comfortable!” Trixie trotted around.

“Yeah yeah,” Twilight rolled her eyes, it would certainly take a lot of effort to convince Trixie to give up this proud act.

“Very well, Trixie shall relocate to a bathroom….where’s the bathroom?” Trixie asked.

“Upstairs,” Twilight said.

“Very well, we expect a delicious meal on our way to the kitchen,” Trixie said trotting up the stairs and vanishing around the corner.

Twilight took a few deep breaths “Just until she get’s back on her hooves,” Twilight said to ease her nerves.

Trixie sighed happily feeling the hot water of a shower washing the mud and debris off of her. She used to dislike showers, seeing them as an annoying necessity to a mare’s beauty.

Feeling one for the first time in a long time, she’ll never take them for granted again.

“It sure was nice to get a chance to stay in a castle, a definite upgrade from our old set-up…” Trixie mumbled… she thought back to how Twilight offered her a place to stay and food… few ponies have shown her such kindness… No…

“Trixie cannot allow herself to be swayed so easily, an image is her’s to protect, she can’t be seen cowering and being pitiable… Trixie isn’t weak… Trixie…” Trixie looked sad and she began to sniffle a little.

Trixie trotted through the hallways admiring the size and beauty of the castle while wishing it was hers.

As Trixie trotted back down the stairs she gave an appreciative sniff of the smell of cooked food.

For the last… however long her bad luck has persisted she had to rely on ponies who were generous enough to spare her some food… or whatever the dumpsters behind restaurants offered… not her proudest moments…

But a home-cooked meal? Sounds like heaven right now, pride be darned.

Trixie hurriedly trotted in the direction of the smell, she eventually found a kitchen and saw Twilight magically heating something up.

“Twilight?” Trixie asked.

“Oh hey Trixie, I’m heating up dinner from earlier, I hope you like spinach quiches,” Twilight said.

Admittedly she wasn’t a huge fan of spinach but with how hungry she was she would eat the grass off the ground.

“Um, yeah! I’ll have some of… that,” Trixie said sitting down at the table.

“Here you go, their hot right now,” Twilight said hoofing a plate of quiches over to Trixie before leaving the room.

Trixie stared down at the Quiches wondering how long it’s been since she’s had a homecooked meal.

She ate one but spat it out when she burned her tongue, she ate it again when it was cooler. The fact she was eating a freshly heated dinner after all those nights sifting around dumpsters, Trixie found herself gorging on the food when it cooled down.

After eating her admittedly delicious quiche meal, Trixie exited the kitchen, and saw Twilight setting up a couch.

“What are you doing?” Trixie asked.

“Setting up your bed,”

“You mean this huge castle doesn’t have any extra rooms?” Trixie huffed.

“It does but it’ll take time to set up,” Twilight said.

“Well…um… don’t expect any thanks for any of this!” Trixie said trying to remain indignant.

“That’s fine,” Twilight sighed before leaving.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” Twilight said trotting up the stairs.

“Hmmph, just don’t wake me,” Trixie said before going over to the couch and laying down.

“Trixie does admit this is rather… comfortable…” Trixie admitted.

It wasn’t long before she drifted off.

Twilight trotted downstairs the next morning, and she saw Trixie still sprawled out on a couch, snoring up a storm.

Twilight smiled, contrary to Trixie’s attitude she knows she’s grateful for this, now if she could just convince her to come out of her shell.

Twilight flew through the room silently and landed outside the room before trotting out into the lobby and exited the castle.

“Welp, time for another day,” Twilight said going on to pull out a checklist and trot off to begin her daily trials.

Spike woke up with a loud yawn and hopped out of bed.

“Whew, slept in a little, better go downstairs to see how Twilight’s doing,” Spike said.

After brushing his teeth he walked downstairs to get some breakfast, as he got into the lobby he heard loud snoring.

“Huh? Did Twilight sleep in too? And downstairs too? Eh it’s happened before.” Spike shrugged before heading into the library.

“Twilight, wake up! You fell asleep downstairs again!” Spike said.

“Ugh… can ya keep it down…” A drowsy voice said.

“Huh?... Twilight?” Spike questioned approaching the couch and going around it.

“Twili-” Spike froze when he saw Trixie laying there.

“Huh?” She looked up to see Spike.

“YOU!?” Spike exclaimed.

Author's Note

Sorry for the short chapter, but here's a character we know and love and she'll be crashing at the Castle Of Friendship for a while.

Wanna bet how long it'll be before she notices some things are off with the other members of the Elements of Harmony?